The tale of the lost poet

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 6: Breaking through

The next evening, I arrived at SM San Lazaro early, the bustling mall a sharp contrast to my internal turmoil. As I approached the event area, I noticed the heightened security. Aurora wasn't making this easy.

"Focus, Emrys," I muttered to myself as I scanned the venue, looking for any possible way to bypass the guards.

Napansin kong may isang emergency exit sa gilid ng stage, half-hidden by a large potted plant. The guards seemed to be less attentive there, so I decided to take my chances. I slipped into the crowd, moving closer to my target.

Aurora's voice filled the air as she began her performance, her words weaving a familiar yet always enchanting spell over the audience. Pero hindi ako makapag focus ng buo, my mind raced as I formulated a plan.

After what felt like an eternity, she finished her performance. People clapped and cheered, and as the noise peaked, I made my move. I darted towards the emergency exit, my heart pounding in my chest. A guard spotted me, and for a moment, I thought it was over.

"Excuse me, sir, you can't be back here," he said, stepping in front of me.

"Bawal talaga?" I said, hoping to stall him. "Kasi sinabi ni Miss Aurora na I should meet her here after the event."

The guard raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Do you have any proof?"

"She mentioned it during her performance," I lied, hoping the noise and chaos around us would lend credibility to my words. "Listen, just ask her. She'll confirm it."

He hesitated, glancing back towards the stage where Aurora was talking to a few event organizers. I took the opportunity and slipped past him, darting through the exit. Another guard tried to stop me, but I managed to weave through the small backstage crowd.

Finally, I found myself in a quieter corridor, and there she was, just a few steps ahead, gathering her things. "Miss Aurora!" I called out, my voice echoing in the empty space.

She turned, her eyes widening slightly in surprise before narrowing. "You actually made it," she said, a hint of a smile playing at her lips.

"Yes, and I didn't show any proof," I replied, breathless. "I just had to see you, to talk to you."

She studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, you've earned this. Walk with me."

We left the venue together, the noise of the mall fading into the background as we stepped outside. Aurora led me to a small park nearby, where we found a secluded bench. She sat down, gesturing for me to join her.

"You're persistent, I'll give you that," she said, her tone softer now. "But why? Why go through all this trouble just to talk to me?"

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "Because your poetry speaks to me in a way nothing else does. It's like you're telling a story that I need to hear, that I need to understand."

She looked away, her expression unreadable. "There's a lot you don't know about me, Emrys. Things that aren't in my poetry."

"Then tell me," I said, leaning forward. "I want to know everything."

"Sa tingin mo talaga sasabihin ko sayo? To a stranger? Even the media know nothing about me. What makes you think na mag sasabi ako sayo?"

I was taken aback by her response, but I refused to be deterred. I could see the walls she had built around herself, but there was a crack—a small glimmer of vulnerability that gave me hope.

"Because I'm not here for a story," I said earnestly. "I'm not the media. I'm just a person who's deeply moved by your words. I want to understand the person behind the poetry, and not just for my own sake, but because I believe there's something important in your story that the world needs to hear."